In 1936 my father built his 9 cylinder radial
engine from the inspiration of an article published in Popular Aviation
Magazine.

The article had a few photographs, two pages of
drawings and two pages of text. The plans for the 9 cylinder have now
grown from the original 4 pages to over 200 pages.

Over the years, the engineering drawings for
his original engine were re-drawn and improved, including
:

1. The
addition of an oil pressure and scavenge pump

2.
Strengthened crankshaft design

3. Improved
ignition

4. Improved
oil control

5. Addition
of tooling drawings to the plans

6.
Development of process operation sheets for major parts

7.
CDI Electronic ignition

8.
Improved compression & oil control rings

9. Using mineral oil for piston ring break-in.

The goal of the plans is to make the building
of a radial engine within the reach of a builder with a home machine shop
and limited machine tools.

In 1979, I built the 9 cylinder in my father's
home shop. After running this engine and my father's original engine, I
realized that both my father and I wanted to build an 18 cylinder double
row engine. My father, retired by this time, did the drafting work while I
made the parts during the evenings. In 1981, the 18 cylinder engine was
completed.

Years later, after my father's death in 1995, I
moved the machine shop to Cincinnati, formerly the machine tool capital of
the world, and introduced my wife, Peggy, to the joys of owning a
Bridgeport Mill.

After attending a local airshow, I
decided to develop a set of plans and build the double row 14 cylinder
engine.

The Rotary

The rotary engine plans are
based on the 1/5 scale model BR-2 by the late Lew Blackmore. These
plans are scaled up for a 1/3 size running engine. Various changes have
been made to make the engine easier to build, these include a conventional
radial cam as well as automobile ignition points.

For years, my father sold the engine plans and
worked with model makers from his home in Dallas. Now Peggy and I continue
the tradition from our home in Cincinnati. A lot has changed since 1936,
but two things have remained the same.

It is our goal to provides a strong set of
detailed plans that includes all we know about building these
engines.

We work hard to maintain personal contact with
the builders who use the plans, and hope we can help you with your engine
project.

My father worked with many engine builders over
the years one of the most unusual was Don Shearman

In the 1980s, Don Shearman in England produced
this double size 18 cylinder entirely in plastic. It was made for the
company he worked for. It was motor driven. Tiny lights turned on and off
to indicate when the spark plugs were firing.

The Steamboat
Engine

In 1984, my father vacationed on the Delta
Queen steamboat and became fascinated by the California cutoff valve
gear. All of the pictures he took did not come out.

Working by memory and from a report in an
International Correspondence School textbook he was able to build a model
of a similar engine.

The original engines are a horizontal cross compound
with a HP Cylinder. of 26" diameter, the LP Cylinder 52" diameter, the stroke is
10 feet. The engines are rated at 2000 Horsepower at 13
RPM.